Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Condemning Unwanted, Unnecessary Medical Procedures on Individuals Without Their Full, Informed Consent, and Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Condemning Qanon and Rejecting the Conspiracy Theories It Promotes

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Scanlon for yielding, and I rise in support of H. Res. 1153.

First of all, let me say to my colleague from Georgia, I was there on that trip and I was not aware that the hospital administrator was offering to meet with us. I was meeting with the people that would want to meet with me and would want to talk to me. As a matter of fact, I had a lot of discussions with a lot of members of ICE while I was there.

As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I have visited a number of ICE detention centers, especially in the State of California. But I must say nothing has prepared me or had prepared me for what I had found, what I saw and what I heard at the Irwin Detention Center.

This was the first time that I have heard individuals in ICE custody desperate to be let out--anywhere--to get out. Women crying, asking not to be left alone. They cried that we--please not forget us--don't forget them.

And yet, their stories had one very common theme. When asking for medical care, when asking for gynecological care, the care they received was without their consent and they had no idea what was going on, what they were doing to them.

The medical doctor that was delivering the healthcare--and I believe my colleague from Georgia mentioned his name--is a doctor that has allegedly been fined half a million dollars. He and his medical practice paid half a million dollars in fines.

So I would ask, why does the U.S. Government, why would ICE, contract with a healthcare provider that has been fined half a million dollars?

And if these women complained about their medical problems, they were placed in what was called isolation for observation. Many of them described it as solitary confinement for days. Solitary confinement that caused psychological pain. These women were scared. They were traumatized, they were scared to ask for further medical treatment and they wanted to be sent home.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, first, we had child separations. Now we have mistreatment of women. This has to stop.

We need investigations. We need oversight. We need accountability. This is not going away.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Ms. Jayapal, for bringing this resolution forward, and I ask all the Members of this body to support this resolution.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source